#GOALS The Podcast

Get the entire conversation between me and LHHATL's Scrapp Deleon. We are talking about his split sentencing, the impact that his prison sentence had on his family, what he did in jail to keep his mind right, and his plans to impact the prison reform movement now that he is out.  

Meet producer, Kellon Akeem. The serial entrepreneur is the owner of Mansa Productions which released the film festival darling, "A Father's Love" earlier this year. And he has been working overtime to put content on your big screen ever since! On this episode of #GOALS, listen as the barbershop owner, and business manager for Dwight Howard lets me in on the secrets surrounding the movie business, the new Black Renaissance hitting the small screen, the intersection between sports and content creation, and everything in between.   

Mikey Moran dishes on his vision behind Private Label Extensions, why race does not play a factor in how he conducts his business, and what contributed to his decision to help others grow their businesses.   

Summer is over, the kids are going back to school, and traffic is going to start ramping back up! We might as well sit in it together. I'm back to give you a run down on what I've been doing this summer and what I have in store for you the rest of the month. We talk:  - The feelings involved in burnt out  - What's coming up this month for #GOALS - Talk shows and budgets - Human Interaction - Terrence J & Joe Budden  I've missed you #GOALgetters and I cannot wait to jump back into things...welcome back!

Liane Membis is the Creator and EIC of Bauce Magazine, a lifestyle site for self-made women. In this episode, Liane delves into her early life growing up in Georgia and gives details on the upbringing that still drives her ambitions today. We talk about the moment she decided to turn Bauce into a business, the tweaks that she made to her target market to grow her audience, and the importance of some tech knowledge. Liane gives us insight on the importance of honing in on the technical aspects of your website and why growth strategies including SEO, the use of backlinks, and brand partnerships are keys to expansion. NOTE: If you are struggling with monetizing your brand pay close attention at the 35-minute mark to hear more about Liane’s journey to monetization. She covers: -Ads -Sponsored Content -A clean user experience -Events & -Angel investors

How important is imagery? In this episode of #GOALS, Jay Bailey of The Phoenix Leadership Foundation dives into the importance of imagery and how it led him to coordinate Welcome to Wakanda. The Phoenix Leadership Foundation, The Dekalb Chamber, and Movie Taverns came together for over 700 students in the Atlanta area to see Black Panther which highlights protagonist Prince T’Challa’s transition to King. T’Challa a black, educated, compassionate, and wealthy superhero represents a positive role model in the mythical universe of Marvel, and it matters. The “Wakanda Day” experience not only allowed the students from 14 different schools to see the movie, but it also allowed them the chance to see their village come together and shower them with love. Mr. Bailey credits the donations of organizations like Georgia Power, Chic-fil-a, and the community for their total of $30,000 that was able to feed the students lunch, hire Wakandian actors, African dancers, drummers, the Universoul Circus, and so much more. Listen as we unpack how Mr. Bailey was about to call on his connections to make everything possible, the highlights of the day from start to finish, and dig a little deeper into the composition of the storyline’s main characters. This is an episode you do not want to miss.   Quote of the Episode: “You are powerful within your three feet. Everybody has a three feet perimeter that they can influence.”

Before becoming a travel influencer & digital strategist Rachel Hill looked like she had it all...  1. The downtown apartment in a prime location. (CHECK!) 2. The 6 figure salary (and all of the shoes that comes with it). (CHECK & CHECK!)  3. The cities of Philadelphia and New York in her back yard. (CHECK!) But she decided to create a new life for herself after realizing that her corporate position was taking a toll on her sanity. Sneaking into therapy sessions and dealing with anxiety led the now traveling free spirit to eventually quit her job making six figures and take up backpacking across South East Asia. She’s been travel from country to country ever since. Starting her brand and blog RachelTravels.com at the beginning of the black travel movement, Hill uses her background in digital marketing  to build her own brand and brand of other influencers with quality content and entrepreneurial ambitions. Listen to this episode to hear how you too can build your brand through the right connections and strategic moves! *Head over to www.goalsradio.net for our talking points.  

After coming home to care for his mother who was recovering from a brain aneurysm, Jelani Nurse survived a tragic motorcycle accident to get back on his path to healing others through herbs. Laying on the hospital gurney with a broken fibula, 2 broken fingers, a fraction of a middle finger, and severe road rash over 50% of his body the one thing that he clung to was the herbs that he used to heal. After 6 months and ditching conventional medicine the Grass Roots Tea CEO has perfectly toned skin and the regeneration of his finger to prove that his herbs work! In this episode, Jelani dishes on the marketplaces in Ethiopia, Peru, and Argentina that helped him to research and gather the different ingredients in his proprietary blends. We talk about the Grass Roots signature blend: Limitless, the Grass Roots product rollout strategy, how the brand sold their products before linking with a manufacturer, and the importance of partnerships that align with their brand.

Pepper B. is a celebrity makeup artist, makeup counter developer, and beauty journalist. She sat down with #GOALS to talk about how she has navigated the different realms of the makeup world since the age of 18. We cover a variety of issues including the art of negotiating your pay as an artist, how easy it is to get stuck at a makeup counter, and social responsibility as an influencer and journalist. This episode was a blast to record and will be even more fun for you to listen to!  

Nathalie Nicole Smith is a beauty,health and wellness entrepreneur who has worked tirelessly over the past seven years to produce a powerhouse brand that cater to women and their needs. As a business woman and national director for TLC Nathalie knows what it takes to secure a $250,000 bag using the same multi-level marketing tactics deployed in Avon and Rubbermaid sales. She sat down with #GOALS to talk about the importance of being teachable, her relationships with the various mentors in her life, the pitfalls of family and business, and her passion for seeing other women win.  We are also breaking down the myths behind Multi Level Marketing. If you ever wanted to know the difference between Wake Up Now and Mary Kay, this episode may be for you. 

Dear, GEEKS, NERDS, ALTERNATIVES, & QUIRKY PEOPLE this episode is for you! Bryanda Law created her blog Quirky Brown Love while taking a break from her MEDICAL SCHOOL application process. After some pretty obvious signs that medical school would be put on hold, Bryanda realize that she had never explored anything outside of that option. Quirky Brown Love was meant to be both an outlet and representation for “quirky” people of color. In 2016 Quirky Brown Love was rebranded to Quirktastic and in 2017 Bryanda entered into an incubator to continue the #GOAL of taking the site to the next level as a full blown media company. In this episode we discuss the challenges of rebranding, the importance of customer discovery, brand activation, shady ex-employees, and expansion. For show notes and minutes go to: www.goalsradio.net

In 2012, about 40,000 inmates in state and federal prisons were serving time for crimes involving marijuana. However, it looks like In just five years the same product that has locked up so many young African American people can now employ them in an emerging industry that few have chartered through. In this episode of #GOALS we sat down with a cannabis success story: Hope Wiseman. This serial entrepreneur and former Wall Street intern is now the youngest African American woman to own a cannabis dispensary in the United States. Listen to the details and learn how at just 25 Hope, with the help of her two business partners set out on a quest to own and operate 3 facilities in regards to the cannabis industry: A Cultivation Center (which houses the various strains of organically grown cannabis) A Processing Center (creates extracts and infused products for patients) & A Dispensary We talk everything from the varying marijuana laws in each state, to the process of winning a license to grow cannabis, discriminatory practices in the industry, body highs vs cerebral highs, and so much more. If you are a smoker, a hustler, or looking to get into an emerging industry than this episode is one you do not want to miss.

Could you name all of the members of Wu-Tang….drunk? Frankly, I got 6 names on lock right now: RZA, Method Man, GZA, ODB, Ghostface Killa, Raekwon, and honorary member Redman and QUITE FRANKLY if drunk I am definitely forgetting one because their names run together when I run them down. This question is the foundation of the tabletop card game University of Dope. Fresh off of celebrating their one year anniversary I sat down with the Dean of Hip Hop Affairs: Skinni Bee one of the co-founders of the Microsoft’s Table Top Game of the Year nominee. After betting it all and investing the money that she had saved for her house into manifesting the University of Dope card game and it looks like the bet paid off. In this episode, we talk… -The lure of a tabletop game vs an app (Shout out to the game night lovers) -Timely questions (Who would’ve thought OMeeka would be no longer?) - Using the crowdfunding technique as a marketing tool - Cease and Desist - Opening day (Pre-Launch footwork) - How to Play: University of Dope - Other Table Top Game Competitors - SWOT Analysis - AfroPunk -U Dope Expansion Packs & so much more!

Eczema, burns, folliculitis, psoriasis…these are only a few ailments that plague colored skin. However, we rarely have a brand that is “FUBU” (For US, by the US) or designed with our melanin in mind (I’m on a roll right now, don’t judge me haha!). However, after sitting down with Erika Clark we know that the billion-dollar beauty industry will slowly but surely make room for her products. The founder and CEO of EHoney LLC, a skincare and beauty brand based in skin of color research, has designed and formulated key products to combat the skin conditions listed above in a more natural way. Using honey as the base for the majority of its products, Clark draws knowledge from her time at Hampton University’s Skin of Color Research Institute to ensure that her products are anti-bacterial, anti-septic, and anti-inflammatory. In this episode of #GOALS we talk about experiences that can change the trajectory of your life including a major car accident that had Erika unable to walk, Erika’s famous influences, the importance of EHoney being approved by the FDA, financing a business, and so much more!

Dana Blair Johnson grew up seeing cotton fields. Miss Johnson, a black woman, from the south, whose father picked cotton during summers when home from college…grew up in Alexandria, Louisana seeing cotton fields. And she used the art of dance to change her scenery. Training in some of the best ballet programs in the country, Dana pursued her passion for dance and performed Off-Broadway in New York City until her body betrayed her and she had to hang up her dance shoes for higher education. In this episode of #GOALS, we break down Dana’s transition from being: “a dancer [who does] not speak” to an on-air personality who asks the questions that millions want to know the answers to. We also unpack Dana’s decision to leave her adopted home of New York City including her on-air hosting position and her mission to move forward including signs from God, who she talks to when making leaps of faith, and getting Dana right.

Tanisha Lawerence has known for quite some time that she wanted to be an entrepreneur. In fact, after watching her father provide for her family through owning and running multiple businesses of his own, one could say that the Brooklyn native inherited an entrepreneurial gene. Lawerence got into the nail polish game after stumbling across various google searches on the hunt for her own unique cosmetic line. And after researching ways to be both innovative and eco-friendly the CEO found the perfect manufacturer to get Law Beauty Essentials up and running. In this episode of #GOALS Tanisha talks about: -Why American Made nail polish was important to her business -How referrals landed her the perfect manufacture -The importance of visiting a facility you are pushing products through -The process of picking a nail color for her line -What makes her business a family affair -The Essence magazine effect & so much more!

The Importance of Human Connection ft. Thomas C Knox of Date While You Wait Thomas C Knox is a self-proclaimed “weirdo” who had the idea to start Date While You Wait, the viral social experiment that involves Knox sitting across from random strangers on the NYC subway and starting a genuine conversation.  Ever the connector, Knox is focused on building a connection strategy and finding ways for people to come together. whether it's through boardgames or human connection. He even speaks to students about utilizing their tribe in his workshop series entitled The Connect Series. It is in this workshop that Knox focuses on teaching the principles he holds dear, and the foundation of good conversation: COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, and COMMUNICATION.  In this episode we...  1) Unpack the importance of sticking to your brand concept. Knox definitely lives by the mantra “You can’t miss what you never had,” while detailing about countless meetings with production companies that want to sacrifice his brand for television.   2) Talk about the challenge of structure as an entrepreneur and how to utilize the corporate structure to your advantage.  3) Knowing when to collaborate vs Outsourcing work  4) The scariness of drive. Knox also co-owns the custom bowtie company: BeGreat Bowties, inspired by his friend. Tyrelle D Shaw who lost his battle with mental illness in 2015. A portion of proceeds from BeGreat Bowties will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.   Quotes from Ep. 51: “People want to connect. It’s just all about the subject.” “Have the COURAGE to use what you’ve learned CONFIDENTLY.” “You can save someone’s life, just by having a conversation with them.”  “People that want to interact with me, they come to the subway.” Connect with Thomas at these links below! FB/IG: @Datewhileyouwait Twitter: @Datewhileuwait Twitter/FB/IG: @BeGreatBowties www.begreatbowties.com

Entrepreneur, blogger, and #DREAMchaser Priiincesss of iampriiinesss.com, moved to the United States in 2000 from Haiti and settled in Atlanta in 2009 to start her own business. After realizing that she wanted to profit from her passion, Priiincesss let go of her first venture, an online dating site, and then shifted her sights to the fashion world by creating a personal style blog and boutique for the modern woman who wants to dress from day to night and make her wardrobe fit her social lifestyle. The driven businesswoman credits her work ethic to her Haitian roots and a family that has worked for themselves as long as she can remember; she uses those memories as a catalyst to push her forward in providing consistent content for her viewers. In this interview, we also talk about the new Blogging 101 course that Priiincesss has created and break down the pressures of following a trend vs the sustainability of building a target market. Ministry of Consistency Topics: The importance of passion in your business Technology Being your brand Google Analytics and Stat Counters Defining your target market Business Partners & Consistency “If I’m not passionate, the money won't be enough to keep me waking up in the morning.” -@Iampriiincesss

Bria Janelle, The Voice of Atlanta Basketball and CEO of LoudGenius.com and LoudGeniusU.com, sat down on #GOALS The Podcast and gave us an inside look on the Summer ’17 Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League, including: -The impact of Uncle Dru AKA Kyrie Irving -The honor of bestowing the coveted AEBL nickname to overseas and NBA players alike We also jumped into Bria Janelle’s platform, Loud Genius, and the importance of the platform for creatives and media personalities without a corporate position. Log on to www.goalsradio.net for this week’s show notes including more on Bria Janelle, exclusive quotes from the episode, and more!

After leaving a corporate position to start her PR firm House of Success PR, #GOALgetter Sakita Holley breaks down the beginnings of her journey in the world of PR and entrepreneurship. Now 7 years in, we talk about how Sakita has gone from figuring out which bills she was going to pay, to being featured on PRWeek 2017’s Top 40 Under 40 list. Admitting that there were times that her dog had more to eat than she did, Holley debunks the myth that entrepreneurship is “sexy” but proves that it is worth it. We Dig Into: -The FEAR of rejection -Cold Calling Clients -Blogging to create credibility -The importance of authenticity & being yourself -Why companies should create a shopping experience for black women -Facing resistance when reaching your goals -Building professional relationships -Branding Lottabody -Hashtags and Stilettos Quotes: “When you don’t come from much, you’re either stuck in place or you’re looking, trying to figure out how to make where you are work for you.” “It’s not a ‘NO’ until somebody’s calling security.” “You gotta do it, AFRAID.” “What are you trying to get in life?” “There is no better time to be an entrepreneur, but there is also no better time to be an employee.” “You always need those people that can SEE IT.” “Every client that comes for you is not going to be for you.”